Disneyland Evacuated?

[Tropical Wilds]

I follow multiple people who happen to be on Disneyland trips at the moment, and I'm seeing pictures of just floods of people being evacuated from the park or denied entry due to a security issue... Now they're being sent to another location away from the park, some to DTD, others to hotels...

Anybody know what's going on?

And before anybody says I'm full of it or making it up, Disney Tourist Blog is documenting it, with pictures, on their FB.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I found this:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012...hile-authorities-investigate-suspicious-item/

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Thanks for the link... All I could find was stuff from 2010.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I read on Touring Plans there is police activity between the park entrances and it sounds like a lock down situation with no one entering or leaving the parks. ??????

 

[TDC Nala]

There was a suspicious item found in a tree near the ticket booths on the plaza. Not inside the parks. Police/bomb squad are investigating.

Guests are being kept away from the park entrances. There apparently were guests already inside Disneyland. They are not being evacuated from the park (since the suspicious item is outside the park and near the park entrance). The attractions are still operating and those who were inside early have the park to themselves, but are not permitted to approach the entrance.

 

[kandb]

Wow, they are doing all of that because of a suspicious package? I am sure people leave packages and forget them all the time. Sounds strange

 

[TDC Nala]

According to some publications that are out, a cast member spotted the item on a morning walk-through inspection and thought it suspicious enough to notify police. People must leave packages all the time - but leaving one in a tree is pretty unusual.

Around here we had a full evacuation of a Metro station once because someone left a bag with what turned out to be a power drill and electical equipment in it on the platform. They don't take chances.

 

[goofy4tink]

Wow, they are doing all of that because of a suspicious package? I am sure people leave packages and forget them all the time. Sounds strange

Sure, but in a tree??? So much better to be safe than sorry.

 

[pigletto]

Wow, they are doing all of that because of a suspicious package? I am sure people leave packages and forget them all the time. Sounds strange

Yeah, but in a tree? Also, one would think they wouldn't call the bomb squad for what looked like a t-shirt in a bag KWIM?
It would have to look suspicious or bomb-like enough to justify an evacuation procedure and get the bomb squad in.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Disneyland board.

 

[llump41]

ooops!


But as media outlets began to cover the story, the man who left the object there called police to let them know it wasn't harmful.

The object was a rolled up piece of paper containing a "spiritual message of goodwill" for park guests, according to police officials. It drew suspicion from park employees because it was placed in a tree, out of reach.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Disneyland-Shut-Down-For-Suspicious-Item-141295473.html

It was a part of a geocaching game.

 

[Dizneydaz]

From updates from my local ABC news on FB (ABC7)

ABC7
DISNEYLAND UPDATE: The suspicious package situation is being called ALL CLEAR.

Officials say a high school student from NorCal cached a streamer in a PVC pipe as part of a game, triggering the incident.

UPDATE: The park was reopened at 11 a.m. Anaheim police say the item was a rolled-up piece of paper with a "spiritual" message on it - not a streamer in a PVC pipe. They didn't elaborate on the details of the message.

A Disney Resort official said the park will extend its hours today as a thank-you to the guests who were affected by the morning's events. Disneyland will close at 1 a.m. and Disney California Adventure will close at 10 p.m. The park also added an additional "World of Color" show at California Adventure at 10:15 p.m. as well as a "Fantasmic!" show at Disneyland at 11 p.m.

posted about 11:30 a.m.

So they are adding an hour to each park which is nice.

And the original breaking news about 9:30 a.m.

BREAKING NEWS: A suspicious item was found at Disneyland by an employee this morning in the trees near the park's entrance. People who are already in the park are being kept inside, and those in line to get inside are being kept out for now.

Anaheim police are on scene and investigating the item. There's no word on when the park will reopen.

 

[Mommy26]

So if i drop my purse does that close Disney too?

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

So if i drop my purse does that close Disney too?

Maybe ... If you drop it in a tree! And a CM think it looks suspicious!
Haha..

 

[Disney Dreams]

Wow, they are doing all of that because of a suspicious package? I am sure people leave packages and forget them all the time. Sounds strange

So if i drop my purse does that close Disney too?

It could.

Areas of DLR are quite often blocked off due to abandoned bags and/or packages. If they don't know what it is, they have to take the route of caution until they can confirm otherwise. Would you want it to be handled any differently?

We have seen an area near the river be cleared because of a backpack that was "suspicious." The police showed up with a dog. When the dog confirmed it was nothing of concern, we were all let back in the area.

- Dreams

 

[pigletto]

So if i drop my purse does that close Disney too?

Well let's see.. If you put it in PVC piping first (commonly used for "pipe bombs") and hide it in a tree, at the entrance to a high traffic public area where it could take lives, then yes, I imagine they would call the bomb squad for you too.
Sadly, I don't think it was an overreaction at all. It looked suspicious, and they did their jobs.

 

[Minuet888]

LOL I think this is the third thread about this that I am commenting on but:

Here's what happened from my cast member friends on the inside.
Security during their morning round found something near the bottom of one of the trees in the gate area outside Disneyland park. It was a tube with a message on it, the message while not speicifc was spiritual yet threatening in nature. FOr precaution they evacuated the park and then a boy came forward saying it was his, and him and his friends were palying a game. Guests were then let back into the park. Disney is staying open later to accomodate guests that were put out due to this disruption. Disneyland park will remain open until 1am and California Adventure will remain open until 10pm.
Charges against the boy maybe filed after the pending investigation is complete.

 

[lwilkison]

I am grateful that the ppl taking care of us @ DLR while we vacate do their job...I always knew they were careful but this just reassures me.

Thank you for doing a great job of keeping your guests safe DLR!

PS/Park to yourself?!?! Oh, how I wish

 

[MolonLabe]

So if i drop my purse does that close Disney too?

Sounds like a PVC pipe was found in a bag sort of hidden by a tree. That is something that needs to be thoroughly checked out IMO.

As to that 'kid'... grrr... what sort of numbskull thinks it's a good idea to hide a pvc pipe near a theme park entrance?

Unlike the usual freak out over an abandoned mcdonalds lunch sack.

People are way to on edge and willing to have their lives and routines interrupted due to over reaction.

Sure if we had packages exploding on even a remotely regular basis, you might be able to justify it. Looking back, when was the last time a suspicious package blew up in a crowded area? 1996 Atlanta Olympic park bombing? Theme park? Never.

People don't realize it but aside from the massive inconveniences caused, the financial costs are staggering. The amount of money it takes to deal with one of these events is huge.

and of course let's not underestimate the fear that is instilled in people. You can see it all the time with the "better safe than sorry"...

It's one thing to be safe and careful. It's another to live in fear of a (non existent) boogeyman. It must suck to live life in a perpetual state of fear